First of Clare’s multi-county crime ring face multiple charges

Two accused thieves nabbed in a mid-Michigan theft ring are jailed on big cash bonds, another will face charges but hasn’t been arraigned and a fourth is jailed on unrelated charges

Clare sheriff’s officials arrested the suspects, who they said had been committing crimes across eight counties, in relation to stolen items and narcotics.

Officials learned on Friday of locations of the items and narcotics.

Gale Lynn Walters, 57, of Gladwin, was arraigned in 80th District court Monday on two counts of conspiracy to write bad checks, one count of obtaining money under false pretenses, one count of conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses, and conspiracy to illegally use a financial transaction device.

Ronald Earl Driver, 34, of Harrison, was arraigned on one count of making or delivering methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm while committing a felony, and one count of possession of methamphetamine or ecstasy.

He was also ordered jailed on $120,000 cash bond.

Both were further ordered, if they posted bond, to have no contact with their codefendants.

Ambrozaitis said another codefendant is named in arrest warrant but has not yet been arraigned.

A fourth is jailed on other charges.

“More charges on all of the co-defendants are expected as law enforcement completes their investigation,” she said.

“The investigation stemmed from a recent arrest of a stolen vehicle that fled from deputies and contained several items of stolen property,” Clare County Sheriff John Wilson said in a press release Saturday.

A collaborative effort among the sheriff’s offices of Clare, Gladwin and Isabella counties, the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team led to the search warrants being executed and a compilation of stolen items and narcotics being located.

Individual search warrants were executed at two separate residences in the 500 block of Dodge Lake Road and 4000 block of North Hoover Avenue in Hamilton Township in Clare County.

In addition, a search warrant was also executed at a residence on Opland Road in Gladwin County.

At this location, four people were arrested and lodged in the Gladwin County Jail pending review of charges by the Gladwin County Prosecutor, according to Wilson.

The Clare County Sheriff’s Office is also asking any business owners that may have recently been a victim of fraudulent check activity from the JRI Home Improvement Company to contact Clare County Sheriff Detectives at (989) 539-7166 ext. 4313 or email at vanbonnd@clareco.net.

About the Author

Rick Mills is editor of the Morning Sun. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and has been with the Morning Sun since 1991. For more, see him on Facebook or follow on Twitter: @RickMills2. Reach the author at rmills@michigannewspapers.com
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